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"5248623_claviarm_sealer_claviarm_167_sleep.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/5248/5248623_claviarm_sealer_claviarm_167_sleep.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large_noncustom": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/5248/5248623_claviarm_sealer_claviarm_167_sleep_noncustom.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/5248/5248623_claviarm_sealer_claviarm_167_sleep_noncustom.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_x": "120", "submission_left_thumb_medium_noncustom_y": "90", "submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_x": "200", "submission_left_thumb_large_noncustom_y": "150", "submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_x": "300", "submission_left_thumb_huge_noncustom_y": "225", "submission_right_submission_id": "3502341", "submission_right_file_name": "5348769_claviarm_zafara_claviarm-ciello-ride.png", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge_noncustom": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/5348/5348769_claviarm_zafara_claviarm-ciello-ride.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_large_noncustom": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/5348/5348769_claviarm_zafara_claviarm-ciello-ride_noncustom.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium_noncustom": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/5348/5348769_claviarm_zafara_claviarm-ciello-ride_noncustom.jpg", "submission_right_thumb_medium_noncustom_x": "120", "submission_right_thumb_medium_noncustom_y": "75", "submission_right_thumb_large_noncustom_x": "200", "submission_right_thumb_large_noncustom_y": "125", "submission_right_thumb_huge_noncustom_x": "300", "submission_right_thumb_huge_noncustom_y": "188" } ], "description": "I'm always tempted to engage in self-expression through preferences. The little choices that don't actually matter, but somehow feel like they carry some meaning, even if I can't express what it is.\n\nOf course, when other people do the same, I recognize it for being as empty as it really is. Some random person is proud of being a chef? Or they really like Disney movies? Those carry no meaning for me. And yet at the same time, I feel proud to be a nurse and feel like my choice of operating system is somehow worth sharing. And for us furries, our fursonas are part of this--Rat means something to me, but it likely means far less to you.\n\nThose personality quizzes that are endlessly posted on social media are sustained by this desire. Look at me, here's the Harry Potter character that represents me. Here's the color of my soul. Here's the brand of bottled water that I am.\n\nGranted, it's not all equally frivolous. One's chosen career is perhaps more meaningful than one's chosen breakfast cereal. But they are ultimately both just choices we made, and other people may not see the same value in them that we do--or they may hold a negative view, and judge us harshly. For that reason, I held back on some icons that I could have added to the sequence, for fear of controversy.\n\nSo what do we do? Do we keep quiet, to be humble and to play it safe? Do we put it out there and hope to connect with those who feel as we do? Or even go so far as to advocate and argue for the meaning and correctness of our choices?\n\nTell me what you think.\n\n\nArt by yuu_zuk0 ([url=https://www.instagram.com/yuu_zuk0]Instagram[/url] / [url=https://www.reddit.com/user/g4bvent_e/]Reddit[/url]). The icons are my doing, don't blame the artist.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "I'm always tempted to engage in self-expression through preferences.  The little choices that don't actually matter, but somehow feel like they carry some meaning, even if I can't express what it is.

Of course, when other people do the same, I recognize it for being as empty as it really is.  Some random person is proud of being a chef?  Or they really like Disney movies?  Those carry no meaning for me.  And yet at the same time, I feel proud to be a nurse and feel like my choice of operating system is somehow worth sharing.  And for us furries, our fursonas are part of this--Rat means something to me, but it likely means far less to you.

Those personality quizzes that are endlessly posted on social media are sustained by this desire.  Look at me, here's the Harry Potter character that represents me.  Here's the color of my soul.  Here's the brand of bottled water that I am.

Granted, it's not all equally frivolous.  One's chosen career is perhaps more meaningful than one's chosen breakfast cereal.  But they are ultimately both just choices we made, and other people may not see the same value in them that we do--or they may hold a negative view, and judge us harshly.  For that reason, I held back on some icons that I could have added to the sequence, for fear of controversy.

So what do we do?  Do we keep quiet, to be humble and to play it safe?  Do we put it out there and hope to connect with those who feel as we do?  Or even go so far as to advocate and argue for the meaning and correctness of our choices?

Tell me what you think.


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